Tractor hitch



0. M. QUAsTAD TRAcToR HTcH Sep, 15, 1959 United eS TRACToR ETCH onler M. Qnasfd, ESthevH1e, 1owa AppHoaon Jaouary 17, 1958, Sena1 No. 709,-641 3 dms. (CL 280 477) ThiS invention felates to vehicle conplingS, and Inore pafticulafly to a11 inpToved conpling aSSen1bly fof con Ilecting a tfactof to an iInplefnent to be dravvn theTeby, of to any othef device to be hauled by the tractof.

The nlaiI1 object of the inventioI1 is to pfovide a novel and iI1I)Toved coupling aSSen1bly fof conIlecting an iInplen1ent of othef obiect to a ffactor, Said aSSefnbly in vo1ving Sinp1e coInponents, being eaSy to inStalL and aHowing an inlpleInent of othef object to be easily conpled to of Unconpled ffoIn a ffactof vVithout the necesSity of the opefatof leaving the tfactof Seat.

A fufthef obiect of the invention iS to pfovide aI1 iII1 proved coup1ing assen1bly for uSe on a tractor, Said as Sen1bly being inexpenSive to fabficate, i11volving Telatively few paftS, being fugged in conStfL1ctioI1 and pfoviding a safe and Te1iable connection between tlle fTactof and the in1plenlent of othef obiect being haUled by the ffactor.

Fufthef obiects and advantageS of the invention vvill becoIne apparent froIn the fol1OWing descfiption and clain1S, and fTofn the accon1panying dfavVingS, vv11efein= FiguTe 1 iS a Side elevationa1 vievv of an iI11pfoved ffactor hitch coupling aSSen1bly accofding to the preSenf invention, With the paftS Shovvn disengaged in1TIlediately pfioI to coupHng.

Figufe 2 is a top plan view of the structufe shown in Figufe 1.

Figure 3 is a Side elevational view, Sin1ilaf to FiguTe 1, but shoving the con1ponents of the aSSeInb1y dispoSed in hofizonta1 a1ignnent ifI1Tlediate1y pTior to actual co11- pling intefengagen1ent of the elen1entS.

Figure 4 is a side elevatioIlal vievv, Sin1ilaf to FiguTe 3, but Showing the e1enle11tS in fully conpled positions.

1=igufe 3 iS a top I)laI1 vieW of the sffuctufe ShovVn in Figufe 4.

Fignfe 6 is a tfansvefSe veftical croSS Sectional vievv taken on the liJ1e oo of FiguTe 3.

Figufe 7 is a ffagtnentary elevational view shovving the suppofting bfacket fof the 1ongitudinally extending guide Tod pfovided on the tractor-Inounted coupling Segment of the asSen1bly.

FiguTe 8 iS an enlarged horizontal cTOSS Sectional vieW takeI1 SubStantially of1 tho line 88 of FigUTe 3.

Figufe 9 iS an enlaTged hofizontal cfosS Sectional vieW take11 substanfially on Hne 99 of FiguTe 4.

Figufe 10 iS a veftica1 CTosS Sectional view taken on the line 1010 of Fignfe 9.

Figufe 11 iS a t1`ansve1Se veftica1 cross Sectional vievv taken on the 1ine 1111 of Figufe 9.

FigllTe 12 is a tfanSvefse veftical croSS Sectional view taken on the line 1212 of Figufe 8.

Figofe 13 is a veftica1 cfoss sectional detail vievv take11 on the 1ine 1313 of FiguTe 9.

Figufe 14 is a. veftical cfoss sectional detail view taken oI1 the 1ine 1414 of Fig1fe 9.

- 1efeffing to the dravvings, the coupling hitch asSon1bly is desigoated geneTany at 15. DeSignated at 1o is the TefvaTd1y extending dfavvbaf of a tfactof, and desig 11ated at 17 iS an i1I)1eII1ent to be coupled to the tfactof,

safd in1p1ement having a hitch tongue 18 pivoted to itS fofvvard end poTtion at 19, as shovvn in Figure 1, vvhefe by t11e tongue 18 is Totatable afound a tranSveTSe hofi- Zonta1 axis. 14 coiled spfing 20 connects the inteTIne diate poftion of the tongue 18 to a fastening loop 21 pfovided on the in1I)len1ent 17 above the pivotal coI1 nection 19, Whefoby the hitch tongue 18 is nofmaHy Suppofted in a soInevvhat elevated position, aS Shovvn i11 Figllre 1.

Secured to the fofvvafd edge of hifch tongue 18 afe the pafaneL veftica11y spaced, TeSpective top and botton1 plate n1en1berS 22 and 23 Which eXtend fofwafdly ffom the tongue and Whioh afe pfovided at theif fofwafd ends vvit11 the veftica1 hitch pin 24 SecHred betvveen the top ad botton1 plates 22 and 23 at theif fofvvafd poftionS, as is cleally Shown i11 Fig1fe 1.

Secured on the top plate 22 is an auXiliafy fofVaTdly extending 1)late 25 vvhich pfojects fofvvafdly of the end edgeS of the plate o1en1befs 24 and 23. 1igfdly secuTed on the fofwaTd1y pojecting poftio11 of the auxiliary plate Inen1ber 25 fs a tfanSvefsely extending, genefally V- Shaped Tod lT1en1be1 27 having the UpWaTd1y and out vvardly inclined aTIT1s 28, 28 of Substantial 1ength.

Secufed on the feaf end poftioI1 of the dfavvbal 16 is a hofiZonta1 plate nen1ber 29 of Substantial Width, Said plate Inen1ber being forn1ed at itS end poftion with a Vnotch 30 dening a pair of finger eleInentS 31 and 32 and a felatively deep pafalle1-Sided iI1tefII1ediate Ilotch 33 Slightly 1ager iI1 Width than the dian1etef of the htch pin 24.

Rigidly secufed to the fear poftion of the hofiZontally extending Inain body member 29 is a genefaHy u-Shaped, HI)Sta11ding ange n1en1bef 34 having the tfansvefSely extending vertical bight poftion 35 and the 1ongitudinally eXtending veftica1 afIn poftionS 30 and 37, said nlen1bef 34 defining a feaTvvafdly facing encloSuI'e. 1)eSignated at 38 is a latch plate vVhich iS pivotally connected at itS intefInediate poftion to the ITlain body nleII1ber 29, as by a fivet 39 the pivofal connection being located adja cent one side of t11e body nlen1bef 29, naIIlely, adjacent the ngef elen1ent 31, aS Shown in FigufeS 8 and 9. The latch )1ate 38 iS fonned With the onter end af1 41 a11d the innef end a1111 42, said inne1 end arm being feceived in the enclosufe defined by the upStanding U-Shaped i1a11 e n1en1ber 34. The innef end aTn1 42 iS Totatable iI1 Said encloSufe and ontvvaTd Totation thefeof is liII1ited by the engagen1ent thefeof vvith the veftical Sido affn 30 of IneInbef 34, aS Shown in Figufe 9.

1 he outef end arn1 41 of the lafch plate 38 iS fonned with a pafaHel-Sided, 1atefally difected, openended notch 42 Which may be at timeS fegisteTed with the paTaHel-Sided notch poftion 33, aS Shown iI1 FiguTe 9, the widt11 of the notch 42 being slightly gTeatef than the diaIneteT of the hitch pin 24, so that the hitch pi11 may be at timeS Teceived thefein, as Shown iI1 Figufe 9. The end of the afn1 41 iS Tounded off and tl1e arn1 is fofnled With the convergent Side edge poftions 43 and 44, the edge oftion 43 being caInn1ingly engageable With the hitch pin 24, aS /i11 be pfesently descfibed.

1)eSignated of 40 iS a transvefsely eXtendi11g, rigid, afched locking lever vVhich is foTIIled vvith a centfal apeftufe 47 feceiving a vefticaL 11I)Sfanding Stud n1en1bef 48 1igid1y SecI11 ed to the main body 29, the uppef end of the StIld 48 eXtending above the arched locking lever 40 and being Tovided with a Stop nut 49. The coiled Spring 50 snffoundS the poTtion of stlld 48 betvveen Stop nut 49 and locking levef 4o, biaSing the locking levef downwafd1y.

s ShovvI1 in Figufe 12 one end poftion of locking lever 40 pivotolly engages in the cornef dened betveen the upStanding Side arn1 37 of the U-Shaped 1iange IIlen1- bef 34 and the Inain body II1eInbef 29. T11e inner afIn portion 42 of t11e 1afch plate 38 iS feceivab1e beneath the oppoSite poftion of the 10cking levef, aS Shown in Figufe 12, norInaHy engaging beneath the dovvnvvaTd1y and outvafd1y inclined end 1)oIion 52 of tho loc1dng 1evef 45, as Shown in Fignfe 12. T11us, fhe 1atc11 p1afe 38 Inay be held in the position thefeof shovn in Figure 8, naIne1y, in itS uncou led position, by the tetainiI1g action of coiled S Ting 50, pfoviding holding fofce oI1 fhe afched 1ocking lever 45. AS Wn1 be seen ffom FiguTe 8, Wh the coup1ing pin 24 engageS in the I1()tch 42 and fhe fractof iS n1oved Tearvvard1y fo cause fhe latch plato 38 to engage vith the coupHng pin 24, the pin eXeffS a caIn IT1ing fofce on the coupling plafe 38, tending fo fofate the coupling p1ate counferc1ockvviSe, as vievved in Figure 8, vheTeby the inner end arn1 42 of the lafch plate s1ipS ol1f vard1y fTon1 beneath the Tetaining aTIn 52 of the 1ocking 1ever 45, 5naHy paSSing beneath said Tetaining ann 52 and engaging the n Sfanding side atm 35 of the U-Shaped f1ange lT1en1ber 34, thuS Teaching the position Shown in FigufeS 9 and 11. The SpTig 50 cauSes the holding e1ement 52 of the locking lever 45 fo Slip downward1y against fhe Side edge of the aTIn 42, th11S preventing any further movement of the 1atch p1ate unti1 the 1ocking 1ever 45 is subsequently elevated.

The aTched 1ocking 1eveT 45 iS fofIned at one edge thereof With a vertically upWaTdly extending f1ange 55 pfovided vith an apeftufe 55 at itS fop end. A cab1e 57 is fastened to the apeffUred top end poftion of 11ange 55, Said cable exfending to a position on flle tfactor vvithin convenient Teach of f1le opeTafor, vvhefeby the opefafor Inay eXert tenSion on cab1e 57 fo e1evate the locking 1evef 45 vvhenever he deSifeS fo TeleaSe the 1atch plate 38, naInely, vvhenever he desifes to Unconp1e the f actor ffom an iInplen1enf of other device to which it is hifched.

AS vvi11 be feadily appafent, even when the hitch is in a 1ocked p()Sition, an in1p1ement may be coUp1ed to fhe ffactof vvithout requifing the opefatoI to leave his Seaf, Since it iS Inefely necesSary fof the opefatof t() TaiSe fhe locking 1ever 45 by nleanS of cable 57 and then back the hifch againSt the coupling pin 24. T,11e coup1ing pin forceS 111e hitch open and then closeS it as the coupHng pin Teaches ifs fina1 position in the S1ots 33, 42,

The body nleTnbef 29 iS pfovided adiacent the inSide edge of arm 42 (With said arm in coupHng position) vith an a )ertuTe 50 in vhich an auxi1iary cking pin 51 may be oSitioned, aS Shown in Figures 9 and 14, the pin 51 being provided With an en1aTged head porfion Which oveflieS the arIn 42, as shOvn in FigTe 14, vvhofeby the pin 51 may be at fimes eaSHy Temoved floIn the aperture 50, nan1ely, vvhen it iS deSired fo nncouple the tracfor ffom the in1p1eInent of othef device aftached thereto.

1igid1y Secufed to the dfaWbaT 15 iS an Upwardly and inwafdly inclined bfackef p1ate 70, and Iigidly Secufed to Said bracket p1ate is a 1ongitudinally eXfending gnide Tod 71 formed at its free end portion With fhe UpWardly and TearWardly inc1ined afn1 72 vvhich iS canfningly en gageable Within the V-Shaped Tod membeT 27 of the tongue 18 When it iS deSired fo 1oWeT the tongue 18 fo a poSition in horizonfal a1ignment vvith said dTaWbar 15, 1an1e1y, to a position Whefein the 1ocking pin 24 vi11 enter the V-notch 30 of nain body IT1eInbef 29 vVhen the tfactor is fnoved Tearvvardly felative to the dfaWbof 18. ThUS, aS ShovvfI in Figufe 1, iI1 pfe1ifninaTy coLlp1ing poSition, the inolined afIn poftion 72 of tho gI1ide rod 71 iS engaged in the v-Shaped Tod 27, Whereby TeaTWard IT1ovenlont of fhe tfactof cauSeS the afIn 72 to eXeff a can1nling action on the aTn1S 28, 28 of the fod 27 to a1ign the tongue 18 with the draWbaf 15, and at the same fin1e to 10Wef the tongUe 18 to a substantiany hoTiZontal po sition, Such aS that shovvn in FiguTe 3. The horizonta1 porfiofI of he guide rod 71 then entefS the v-shaped Tod n1eInbeT 27 as the tTactof continues its Tearvvafd Inoven1enf, achieving the S11bStanfia1 a1igT1Inent of the fongue 18 With the dfaWbaf 15, aS Shown i1 Figufes 3 nd 4. Finally, vvifh continued reaTWard n1ovenlent of the ffactof, the hifch pin 24 entefS t11e notch 42 of latoh plafe 38, as above deScribed, and caIns the latch plate f1()In the position of Fignre 8 to the position of Figufe 9, Whereupon the aTm 42 of fhe latch p1ate S1ips outward1y paSt the edge of the inclined end a1m 52 of locking lever 45, 1ocking the 1atch plate 38 in itS coupling position, S11own in FigUTes 9 and 11.

In ofder tO fe1eaSo fhe latch plafe, the fe1eaSe cab1c 57 muSt be puHed, Whereby the locking 1ever 45 is e1evafed to the dofted view poSition thefeof Shown in FiguTe 11, aHowing the latch p1ate 52 fo be fotated in a c1ockWiSe difectioI1, aS vieWed i11 Figure 9, TesponSive to the fofwafd Doven1ent of the tractof Telative fo the iInp1ement of other device pfevions1y coupled thereto, whereby the locking in 24 iS Withdfawn fton1the notches 42 and 23.

If So deSifed, the bTacket plate 70 fnay be monnted on the baSe late 29 inStead of the drawbaT, said baSe p1ate being fovided v/ith a paif of Inounting holes 90, 90, 10- cated fo feceive the faStening boHS 91 employed to secufed the bfacket plate 70.

vVhile a Speci1ic enbodin1ent of a tTactof hitch coupHng haS been disc10Sed in the foregoing deScription, it vvil1 be undefStood that vafiouS nlodifications vvithin fhe Spirit of the invention Inay occuf to thoSe Ski11ed iI1 tho aft. Therefofe, it is intended that no lilnitationS be placed on the inventioI1 eXcept as defi11ed by the Scope of the appended c1ain1S.

what iS clain1ed iS= 1. A hitch coupHng coInpfiSing a hofizonta1 body Inen1ber forn1ed at one end with a notch de5ning a pair of hofizonta11y Spaced fingef e1enentS adapted fo Iecoive a vertica1 hitch pin thefebetween, a hofiZonta1 1atch p1ate pivofed on a vertica1 axis at itS intefn1ediate poftion to said body nleInbef and fofIned vvith a notch at one end TegiStfable with Said 5rst-named notch and engageable vVith the htch pin When it is poSitioned betwoen the fin ger e1enlentS, a locking levef pivotaHy InoUnted on said body fneInber for rotation in a veTtica1 plane transverSe to said body nlen1ber and yieldably Secured to said body nleInber and ovef1ying the othef end of the 1atch plate, an abutInent e1elnent fising froIn Said body TneInber aId Spaced oLltVvafdly in Said tfansveTSe plane ffon1 Said 1ockin levef to locking1y feceive Said other end of the latch plate bet een Said abutn1ent ele111ent and Said 1ocking lever w11en fhe nofch of the latch plate is Subsfantiany in TegiStry With the firSt-named notch, a hitch fongue, a v- Shaped tfanSvofSe U Standing fod n1en1ber SecuTed to said hitch tongue, a vertica1 hitch pin on Said hitch tongue be low Said Tod nlen1beT Teceivable in Said 11fSt1afned notch, and a 1ongifudinany eXfending guide fod secured fo Said body membef cammingly engageable fn said VShaped Tod membef.

2. A hi[ch coupling con1priSing a hofizontal body IT1en ber fonned at one end vith a notch defining a pair of 11OfiZontany Spaced nngef e1ements adapted to feceive a veffica1 11itch pin f11efebetveen, a hofizonta1 1atch plate pivoted on a veftica1 aXiS at itS inferInediate poftion fo Said body n1ember and forIned with a notch at one end TegiSffb1e With Said HTSnamed notch and engageable vvith the hitch pin when it iS positioned betvVeen the Hngef elenlentS, an aTched 1ocking levef pivotally Inountcd on Said body IneITlbef fof rotati()11 in a veftical p1ane tfanSverse to Said body Iflefnber and yieldably Secufed at ifS n1id por5on t() Said body member and oveflying the othef end of the 1atch p1ate, an abutment eleInent Tising fr()IT1 Said body Tnen1beT and Spaced horizonta11y outWard- 1y in said tranSverse plane ffon1 Said 1ocking 1eveI to 1ockingly Teceive said othef end of the latch p1ate betweon Said abutment elen1enf and an end of Said 1ocking levef When the nofch of the 1atch p1ate is SubstantiaHy in fegiS- 11 y vVith the fifSfI11n1ed nofch, a hitch tongue, a V-shaped t ansvefse upStanding fod n1en1bef Secured to said hifch tongue, a veftica1 hitoh pin on Said hifch tongue be1oW sa1(1 Tod membeT receivable in said f1rSt-naIned notch, and a lon itudinall extendin guide rod secured to Said body nlen1ber caInIning1y egageab1e in Said VShaped Tod member.

3. hitch ooupHng comprising a body nlen1be1 having a planifofn1 suTface and a notch at one end of said suT- face, a 1atch p1ate pivoted betvveen its endS on Said n1en1beT to sWing in face-toface contact With said Snfface between latching and nnlatching )Sitions, the plate having an illne1 end aTIn and having an outer end aTIn foTnled W1th a notch TegisteTing With the fifst notch in said 1atching )()Siti()I1 of the plate, a 10cking lever pivoti11g on the body IneInber about an axis noTma1 t() that of the 1atch p1ate, a headed stud n1eInbe1 roiecting fToIn Said suIface, n1eanS on the body n1eInber TeSilient1y yieldab1y biasing the 1ocking 1eve1 into contact vfth said surface, coInprising a compfeSSfon co11 Sp1ing circunlposed abont the StUd TneInber and abutting at its ends against the head of the Stud n1eInber and t1e 1ockin lever Ies ecfive1y, said10cking1eve1 When cootacting said Sufface be ing engaged with one side of the inner end aITn in said 1atching OSition of the 1atch p1ate to prevent SWinging of the latch p1ate in oIle diTectioI1 froIn its latching poSi fion, an abutment on the body member pToiecting f10I]1 said suTface i11 poSition to engage the othe1 Side of the inneT end arIn in Said 1atching poS1tion of the 1atch p1af to Tevent the 1atch p1ate fr()In svvinging in an opposite difection fron1 its latching osition, the stud IneInbe1 being positioned to 1iInit the inne1 end arIn again st SWing ing Inoven1ent in said one diTection beyond the unlatching positi011 of the 1atch p1ate, the 1ocking 1eve1 having an aperture loosely 1 eceiving the StUd n1ember, means Te- II1otely o efable by a user and connected to the 1ocking lever for rocking the SaIne aWay froIn Said suTface against the Testfaint of the spring to Te1ease fhe latch p1ate for SWinging movement in said one difection toward itS unlatching position, a hitch tongue, and a hitch pin on the tongue conned in the 1atching position of the latch p1ate, W1thil1 Said notches crossWise of the p1ane of sa.id Sufface.

References c1fed in the e of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 644,338 slauSon Feb. Z7, 1900 L060,441 Enge1 Apr. Z9 1913 Z 8ZZ 739 A1tge1t Feb. 11, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 9Z9 651 Gennany Iune 30, 19SS 

